Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-01-01
OUR ORANGES AND LEMONS.
Annual Report Of Geo. Rice, Sec.
rotary ef the Orange Growers
Union.


Annual Report Of Geo. RKce, Sec.
rotary 81 the Orange Growers
Union.
Mr.. Geo. Rice the energetic Secretary
of the Orange Growers Protectiv,
Union in his valuable annual repor
says:
at is o fact, q demonstrated one
that Southern California is the onls
place in the United States, where th;
orange and lemon are free from destruc
tive frosts. This advantage is one Of
great Importance"
Another fact. worth much to thi.
semi-tropic cline of ours, is that South
ern California oranges are the best
shippers and keepers IN the world.
Oranges have been shipped rs test
to New York and from there to London,
England, with request to note condition,
they were in such excellent preserva-
tion that the firm reshipped a box to
New FORK, with the comment, Judge
for yourself. A part of this box was
returned to Los Angeles and opened up
solid, firm, and delicious. Make note
of it.
The planting of orange trees has been
going on very rapidly since the trans.
portation question has been 90 nearly
settled, allowing our growers to lay
down box of oranges tby the car losd)
in the Eastern cities for &c. The
orange growers protective union reduc
ing it to 60 with prospect of stil
further reduction.
The crop of 1885 6 was in round mum
bers 2, $50 car loads or 726, 900, boxes
bringinga net return TO the growers of 0
round million of dollars,
Through the instrumentality of the
union the last years crop was more
widely distributed, and instead of ship
ping to 80 places East as the year pre-.
vious (the bulk of the crop going to
four cities) the Union shipped to seven.
ty one points, consigning or selling five
cars and upward to "a places and five
cars or less to 81 other places.
1t was this careful distribution, to.
gether with the care taken in not rush
ing the crop off too soon, but sending it
NO faster than the demand for
them that made it success.
Again the beauty of our oranges keep.
ing on the tress until July almost per.
fectly gives us this vide range of time
in which to market. The Union did
not make single glut in any market
last season, and not only protected the
fruit of their own members, but kept
out Of makets where non-union men has
glutted.
This season. 1867, the crop will be
about the same as last, possibly some
increase. The prices, up to the lst oi
January, have ruled good, selling at
from 81. SO to 81 90 per box on the tree,
for seedlings and budded Washington
Navels, selling for $500. Without q
union these prices would be impossible,
and still the union hiss not that support
it should have.
From the number of new orchards
planted that are commencing to bear,
careful estimation, places next seasons
crop at one million boxes.
WILL ORANGES PAY?
There is no daubt as to whether grow
ing oranges (good oranges) will pay; the
tocto oI0 oOIAo Out w tuo uSuToo IOI
last seasons crop. a. shown on the books
of the Union-that good oranges will
command first.class prices in any market.
No difference how full it may be of in
ferior fruit; consequently there cannot
be an production. It don't pay to
grow poor fruit. and the new conner,
and for that matter the old timers,
should understand that the orange and
lemon regions, special locality, soil,
treatment, and an unfailing supply of
water for irrigation, not that the orange
should be flooded (many irrigate too
much), but water must be sure when
wanted.
An orange grove can be planted and
brought to five years Of age, if budded
just ready to commence bearing, for $3.50
per acre reckoning the raw land with
water, at $3.50. At the end of five years
the receipts should be, on properly
planted orchard, location and soil suita.
BILE, with proper attention, 5000 per
acre. At eight to ten years the receipts
will be from $500 to $500 per acre.
These figures are taken from the bal
ance sheet of an orchardist and are cor
rect; just what others can do, who go
about it right. RICE.